Are you an aspiring astronomer?

If the answer to this question is a resounding YES, then gain inspiration from a 15 year old Caulfield student.

Reported in last Saturday’s Age newspaper, Will Stamp, a Year 11 student at John Monash Science School, discovered a variable star using his home computer and an interstate telescope.

He kept a keen eye on his patch of sky for six months, during which time he studied more than 250 images. The amateur skywatcher was looking for stars with a fluctuating light intensity – the hallmark of stars that change in brightness, which are known as variable stars.”

Melbourne teen discovers star 300 times the size of Earth. (The Age, February 10th, 2017)

Pretty impressive for someone so young!  With a ‘can do’ attitude, we are positive that you too can reach for the stars!

The GFL receives hard copies of Melbourne’s newspapers daily which are available from the front desk.  Want to read these newspapers online but not sure how?  Ask the library staff for assistance.

Be informed.  Be knowledgeable. Get into the habit of reading what’s happening in our world on a daily basis.  Newspapers are a great resource for both local and international news!

Come check out the revamped GFL!

After a considerable amount of effort and with the grateful assistance of some strong hands, the start of 2017 has seen the revamp of the Gregory Fish Library, our senior school library, fondly known as the GFL.

The makeover has indeed given new meaning to the term ‘flipped classroom’ as quite literally, the mass of student desks on one side of the old library have swapped places with the shelves holding the wide range of resources in our various book collections.  Resources are easy to locate and a friendly library staff member is always around to lend a hand.

We are open for business as always: Monday-Thursday 8.00am-6.30pm and Friday 8.00am-4.00pm (except for morning recess daily & Wednesday afternoon when we close from 12.30-3.30pm).

Come visit and check out our new look!

 

Amie and Jay/ Jay and Amie

You love their books now hear them speak!

The Garret: Writers on Writing – Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

More podcasts from The Garret

Port Phillip Library – Kate McCaffrey

Award winning young adult writer, Kate McCaffrey discusses her controversial new young adult novel, Saving Jazz.

Jasmine Lovely has it all – the looks, the grades, the friends. But when a house party spins out of control, Jazz discovers what can happen when your mistakes go viral … We know teens are at risk of becoming victims of cyberbullying. But do we know how at risk they are of becoming perpetrators?

This challenging new novel tackles cyberbullying from a whole new perspective. Saving Jazz includes mature themes and may be confronting to younger readers.

This is a free event – bookings are essential via Eventbrite. A waiting list is available on Eventbrite if you are unable to secure a ticket. If you book and are unable to attend please let us know so that we can pass your ticket on to another patron.

Source: Port Phillip Library – Kate McCaffrey

Getting Hooked on Reading in the GFL!

From little things big things grow!

That is certainly the intention of a new program begun with some of our Year 11 students.  Hooked on Reading, a program which will build bridges through reading between our International and Non-International students is a new initiative that is having a trial run in the Gregory Fish Library at lunchtimes over the next few weeks.

Aiming to assist our International students gain confidence and improve their ability to read, write, listen and speak English, a side benefit of the program undoubtedly will be to provide an opportunity for all students to develop friendships with each other and learn more about each others’ lives, lifestyles, country and culture and in the process build a warm and welcoming community in which all students participate.

While early sessions will focus on getting to know each other, it is anticipated that future sessions will be relaxed and casual in which students will be able to interact and talk about reading and books or even share a story together.

The first session which was held on Tuesday 26^th April (see some pictures below) started with a small group of interested students, but any Year 11 students are welcome to join the next session on Tuesday May 3^rd and future sessions which will be run over the next few weeks.  Speak to GFL staff for more details.

Inky Longlist 2016 announced!

Inside a Dog have just announced the longlist for the 2016 Silver and Gold Inky Awards.  Selected by teens, for teens these books represent the best of the best!

Students interested in being an Inky Awards Judge to select which 10 books from this longlist will make the shortlist, should submit applications here be Monday 28th April.

Don’t hesitate!  Get your applications in!  Mentone Grammar has already been honoured to have two of our students as Inky Award Judges!

Library Lovers’ Day 2016

To coincide with Valentine’s Day, Friday 12 was Library Lover’s Day in the GFL.  During the week we had Blind Book Date with a book, and ran a Poetry competition.  All of the entries were very good, and the judges had a hard time picking the winner.  In the end, there were two winners: Andrew Persic 12J, and Louise Solomonides 12FA and they took very different approaches to the competition, both entering genuine and warm pieces.  We had two runners up Frazer Kamp 12 Deighton and Jasmine Grey 11A, and special mention must be made of Mr Rohan Murphy’s heartfelt tribute to his wife and family.

Thank you to all students and staff who got involved in these fun activities.

Shortlist announced – 2016 Redgum Young Writers Award

“Have big dreams. You will grow into them.”

“Five young authors have been shortlisted in two award categories – Children’s Short Story and Children’s Picture Book – with the winners to be announced in the first week of March. The shortlisted authors represent both public and private schools from across the nation. New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, West Australia and the ACT are all represented in the short list. ”

You can see the shortlist HERE.

REMINDER: The notJack Writing Prize $3000

From the website:

notJack was established to support and protect iconic Australian literary landscapes, by fostering creative engagement with place and promoting the significance of place for Australian writers, their work and readership.

notJack currently supports the protection of the Moolort Plains, from and in which the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award Winner Romulus, My Father was written. The film of the same name was shot on site. In honour of this book, and the manner in which it crosses several genres to engage with place, the notJack writers’ prize accepts submissions from a wide variety of genres and writing styles.

Entries close MARCH 14th 2016

Library Lovers’ Day is on its way!

There’s nothing nicer than being able to celebrate a day of love!

Library Lovers’ Day, which is traditionally celebrated on February 14th in Australia, is inextricably linked to Valentine’s Day.  This is the reason that the fun competitions run in our library are focused around encouraging students to write love poems and letters.

This year, students are encouraged to write a poem about their favourite person, pet or library!   Entries should be placed in the box on the GFL front desk by Thursday 11th February.  Include your name and House and you will be in the running to win a Village Movie pass or a small Valentine’s bear.

While visiting the GFL, check out the displays and be sure to take a Speed Book Date!   The plain paper bags scattered around the GFL are labelled to indicate the gender of the novel’s main protagonist – pink: female, blue: male and green: both male and female.

Happy Library Lovers’ Day everyone!